The Spatial and Heterogeneity Impacts of Population Urbanization on Fine Particulate (PM2.5) in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China

Abstract

This paper addresses the effect of population urbanization on Fine Particulate (PM2.5) in the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China from 2006 to 2016 by employing PM2.5 remote sensing data and using the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology (STIRPAT) model. The study contributes to the growing empirical literature by addressing heterogeneity, spillover, and dynamic effects in the dynamic spatial panel modeling process simultaneously. The empirical results show that population urbanization has a significant impact on PM2.5 with a positive spillover effect and a dynamic effect being detected and controlled. The heterogeneity effects of population urbanization on PM2.5 due to geographical positions show evidence of an obvious inverted U-shaped curve relationship in the upstream area and an increasing function curve in the midstream and downstream areas. The heterogeneity effects due to population urbanization levels show that an inverted N-shape curve relationship exists in low and medium urbanization level areas, while a U-shape curve relationship exists in high urbanization level areas. It is hoped that this study will inform the local governments about the heterogeneity of population urbanization and spillover effects of air pollution when addressing air pollution control.